Sinn Féin has announced it will select a candidate to challenge Michael D Higgins in the Irish presidential election this October.

Higgins announced last week that he would seek a second term and his bid has been backed by Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour.

Irish presidents usually return to office unopposed. This will be only the second time in the history of the modern Irish state than an incumbent president has been challenged, the Belfast Telegraph reports.